So here I am, sitting in the back family room of my parents house. The door is wide open and a lovely cool breeze is wafting through, along with the scent of flowers, the whistle of birds, and . . . the revving sound of a lawn mower?!? I'm in Australia peeps, and it's a temperate day, a nice day, where I actually feel I can go outside, enjoy a walk, and "get down" with being an "Aussie" again. Yesterday was a different story all together, hot, humid, sticky, oven-like, and hell. I only went outside once and that was in the late afternoon when the sun was dipped slightly below the hill and the light was softened to a haze. The rest of my day was spent in front of the air conditioner or under a fan, with sweat beads creeping across my brow and my legs leaving damp spots on my vacated seats (lovely image I know!). I really wanted to be back in England yesterday, with it's 5 degree days and sheet ice, ahhhhhh - well, no I didn't, not really, because I have had a few epiphanies whilst here in Australia and one of them was that as much as I love the cold, sometimes I need the heat . . . and here's why -

Have you heard of hibernation? Yes? No? Well here's a dictionary explanation -

1. : to pass the winter in a torpid or resting state2. : to be or become inactive or dormant

(courtesy of Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)

What does hibernation have to do with my discovering a need for heat? Well, I love the cooler weather, the crispness of Autumn, the iciness of winter, but coming back to Australia I have realised, back home, I was hibernating! Not like a bear does, snuggled up, sleeping winter away. No. My mind was hibernating, my mind was snuggled up in it's old ways, holding onto old thoughts, old patterns, old ideas. I literally was allowing my mind to lay dormant, to hold onto the old, to push away the new. My first week in Australia has woken my mind. The bright light and sticky heat has prodded and poked my mind. The new conversations with "old" people, the taste of fresh foods, the early mornings and lazy evenings, have all consorted to jolt that spark of creativity in my mind.

There is a renewal of energy, a spark of life, a drumming of wonder!

Whilst things at home are hibernating, waiting patiently for the spring, I have had an early awakening! AND this early awakening is good, it's great, it's fantastic!!! It's shown me that change can be a good thing . . . remember that old saying "a change is as good as a holiday!" This is a change revved up to the power of nine!!

I will be honest, I felt a little resistant coming back to Australia, of course I wanted to see my family, but the UK is home now and I felt reluctant to leave. But this change, this topsy-turvy alteration of location and heart has shown me that it's good to mix it up, it's good to get away from the norm, it's good to let go and just be in a new place, cause the idea juices get a flowing and then you feel unstoppable.

The other great thing about Australia is of course seeing my family . . . with my Auntie passing this year it was really important that I come back and check in with everyone. Just being here with my family is the best Christmas present and has been a great inspiration to me.

So my advice to you all . . . don't be stubborn, don't dig your toes in, don't resist change, cause even a small change can spark something HUGE!